Second rewrite here we come!

Ok, gone through the first rewrite of Kinloch 2, lots of changes but all for the better. Still a couple of sections I'm not fond of but hey this is only the start of the second pass through.

To give myself a break, I started notes for another Spartika City short story. The rainy and cold weather gave me the idea believe it or not. To balance both, I'll work on pages of one then take a break to chisel at notes for the Spartika City story. Then I'll get back to Kinloch again. I know its not the most focused approached but I think I've been corrupted by my software engineering job (aka... being forced to multitask and code on multiple software projects at the same time). I like the intro, I like the fledgling plot... I'm not sure I like them together.

Ah and still waiting to hear on the first Spartika City story AND the royalty check.. here's hoping sales were up!

A Weekend This Way Cometh

Thursday, almost the end of another week. Work's been grinding lately. A lot of rush to complete the current project for a pair of demos. One tomorrow and one next Tuesday. When I started, I was worried about getting it done. Something I don't worry so much about now, as I find myself a bit ahead of the game development wise. All the components I was to make are done (or as done as your get before they are tested), and now I'm waiting on a component to be made for me to use. I was told its a 'make or break' project for the company. That, all by itself, is enough stress for me. I'm aware I've enough skills to attract most potential employers *but* that doesn't mean they'd offer me a job. 'Overqualified' can be a very scary word at times, especially now in an economy that is very fluid.

In the News, seems scientists think they've found life on Mars.. or are pretty sure they will. Microscopic and bacterial life anyway. Pretty good article on it here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6981361/
Brings food for thought there. If there is bacterial life in caves on Mars, and we take into account that an organism will grow to an approximate size that will help cause an equilibrium in its environment (humans notwithstanding, right now we make a better parasite than anything else when it comes to the environment!), I wonder if in a large enough cave, simple life, like cave fish or reptiles or who knows what will have evolved in the darkness of the Martian caves? Makes you wonder doesn't it?

On the book front, I finished editing part one the other day -- now for edits round 2. Got a bit burnt out yesterday though. Tried to edit the manuscript, but just couldn't bring myself to do it. Not that its uninteresting, I'm just so worn out from engineering work it makes it hard to shift gears like that. I started a short story, something science fiction to give me something different to get my mind around. That seemed to help. I guess I should just keep a battery of projects about to work on to help ease any burn out from the main manuscript.

Rainy Day, Thoughtful day

Clouded up and rained today, which always sombers anyone's mood. Given I spent six hours straight in a software planning meeting, I guess I was already headed for such a mood. Seems I've 7 days to pull off an impressive coding feat. I'll get it done, it just won't be pleasant. Afterwards I've plenty of vacation time to look forward to using. I was thinking of taking a friday off here or there but now... a whole week is sounding pretty good indeed!

Still no word about the short story. However, its only been a month; I'd be surprised if I made it to the middle of the slush pile. Still have my fingers crossed though. Speaking of writing, I've been reading again on marketing manuscripts... they really ought to just say at the start of those books "Ok.. lets get this out of the way now.. don't give up your day job!" It'd save some innuendo further in. They mean well I know, but often I wonder "are you trying to honestly help or dissuade a potential rival writer from a tight marketplace?" Anyway, they speak down about self-publishing, and I can understand why. Its a very hard path, espeically if you've not the first clue as to what you are doing when it comes to marketing and how to get visibility for your work and so on. I've enjoyed my time with my current publisher - even though I now know Print On Demand is only a half step away from a true Vanity Press - but I may shop *carefully* around to some agents and bigger publishers. I say *carefully* as I've already begun to read and learn how badly a person can get stung by the wrong agent. If Lady Luck is on my side, then I'll be just fine. So.. here's to Lady Luck!

Voting, Iraq and troops .. oh my!

Well the Iraq vote has come and gone. Will it work? We'll see. A democracy ( or in all honesty a republic, cause that's what we are here in the US folks ... don't be fooled by the press and talking heads using their buzzwords! ), requires a cooperative effort. One, the people have to get out and vote how they feel. Two, they have to be unafraid to do any part of number One. Three, the people who win those elections have to do what is *really* what is best for the people. Not for themselves, not for"special interest groups" ( a serious problem here in the states I might add ) but for the country as a whole. If any of those fail, stumble or falter, you've got a serious problem on your hands. There are dozens of countries around the world that start off as a 'democracy' or 'republic' and wind up a dictatorship due to faltering. Look at Nepal right now. One doesn't put a Prime Minister under house arrest if something wasn't wrong there. Just a bit of side dish for your morning food for thought.

On another note, I recently received a great email! An old classmate of mine from way back found me. Got me to thinking about days when I was in High School. Yes, I waxed nostalgic a bit, hey who wouldn't? High School was frantic, nerve-wracking, nightmarish, terrifying... and some fantastic memories at times too. I should keep in touch with those that I know of better, if for no other reason than for old times sake. So here's to you Bonnie! Good to hear from you again... and yes, I *do* remember you!